MAGUINDANAO PEARLS Isidro L. Reztizos Characters: Sinag-tala- a 16 year old basket weaver and the daughter of Pirang Kawayan. She fell in love with Magiting/ Walang Gulat. Was called Lily by the River Magiting/ Walang Gulat – son of the Chief of Pasigan. Was already engaged to Lakambini but fell in love with Sinag-tala. Lakambini- antagonist of the story. Became jealous of Sinag-tala and accused her taking pearls. Pirang Kawayan- father of Sinag-tala. Chief of Maynila Summary When Sinag-tala was 2 and a half, her grandma came and placed a fresh lily in one of her hands and a small, pale pearl on the other. She said the Sinag-tala was to grow as soft and delicate as a lily and she will own priceless pearls taken form oysters from the blue seas of Maguindanao. After 14 years, she was called by Lakambini to make baskets for the mother of Walang Gulat. So she went to the riverside to get some bamban reeds and young bamboo joints. While doing this, she met Magiting. They talked for a while but they didn’t know that some people were watching them. These people said what they saw to Lakambini and she became furious. She then told Sinag-tala that she did not need the baskets anymore and ended up hiding the pearls in one of the baskets. So Sinag-tala was accused of stealing the pearls. Sinag-tala was then put into trials. Magiting, because he loved her, tried to make her free by “donating” some jewels to the village in place of the pearls. The Judges did not accept this. Sinag-tala was then placed into the boiling water ordeal wherein she had to dip her hands in boiling water and get one stone at the bottom and if her hands showed no signs of being burned, she was innocent. Sinag-tala was about to this when Pirang Kawayan stood. Lakambini knew that he was going to do something bad but as she screamed, Pirang Kawayan stabbed his own daughter. Lakambini then admitted that she was the one who hid the pearls and that Sinag-tala was innocent. But it was too late for Sinag-tala was already dying.